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Observations: Michigan football escapes mistake-filled 1st half with lead

• Michigan's discipline in the penalty department has been a huge problem thus far, as the Wolverines have been flagged 11 times for 98 yards. Michigan had six penalties in the first quarter.

And a sideline warning.

Holding, offsides, unsportsmanlike conduct. You name it, it has happened.

The Wolverines squandered an opportunity in the first quarter after Maurice Hurst blocked a field goal and Lavert Hill returned it to the Hoosiers 27. Two plays later, due to penalties, it was 2nd-and-25. Michigan settled for Quinn Nordin's second made field goal of the day instead of six points.

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Tyree Kinnel gestures to the crowd as he walks off the field, after intercepting an Indiana pass in overtime to seal the Wolverines' 27-20 win in Bloomington, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. AJ Mast, AP

• Michigan's run game has gotten back to basics, with plenty of gap-based schemes, and it has paid off.

Karan Higdon has been the team's best running back this afternoon and one would have to think he has earned more carries -- though the Wolverines continued to rotate after Higdon capped an impressive drive with back-to-back runs covering 28 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown in the second quarter to make it 13-0.

Higdon has 70 yards on 8 carries at the half.

• Michigan's passing game has basically been ineffective through 30 minutes. John O'Korn's best play of the day came on a broken scramble where he avoided a rush twice, before floating an impressive 17-yard pass to Donovan Peoples-Jones.

Otherwise, it has been stale at best, as O'Korn is 7 -for-11 for 53 yards in the first half.

O'Korn was bailed out by a questionable pass interference call down the sideline -- a play that resulted in a Rashard Fant interception, but was wiped out after the officials flagged Fant for defensive pass interference.

Michigan also had its own interception overturned, as Hill had an interception wiped out for a defensive pass interference call.

• Michigan started Juwann Bushell-Beatty at right tackle in place of Nolan Ulizio for the first time this season.

And, so far, the pass protection has been relatively solid, or, at least better than it has been. Indiana has not recorded a sack through two quarters.